This spring, Penobscot Island Air used an unconventional tactic to get money it’s owed for flying mail out to Maine islands.
On April 21, the small airline shared on Facebook that the U.S. Postal Service owed it $388,000 for mail deliveries going back to 2023—including for all deliveries so far in 2026. The next part got the agency’s attention.
“We have to make a small stand, so we won’t be delivering USPS mail today,” the airline wrote. “It’s been 75 days this year alone that we have dutifully loaded up USPS mail and ferried or flown it out to the islands. It’s no secret that winter is our slow period, and without prompt payments, cash flow is bleak.”
The airline said that had exhausted other efforts and wasn’t taking the step lightly.
The next day, it shared another update: USPS had pledged to pay about 25% of its balance that week.
“Considering the pace at which USPS generally moves, our contract officer pulled off a small miracle to make it happen,” the airline said. “We have a framework for going forward, and there’s enough clarity for us to work with. We’ll be back in the morning delivering mail.”
The airline noted that Maine’s congressional delegation was working to make it whole.
